B.C. Launches World-First Technology to Revolutionize Hereditary Cancer Prevention

BC Cancer, in partnership with the BC Cancer Foundation, has launched a breakthrough in precision health in Canada: sequencing 6,500 whole genomes and applying a world-first technology — Parent-of-Origin-Aware genomic analysis (POAga) — to transform hereditary cancer prevention. This initiative represents the first large-scale clinical application of POAga globally.  

POAga determines with 98% accuracy whether a cancer-causing mutation was inherited from the mother or father using only one blood sample. This breakthrough helps patients and families understand their risk faster and guides life-saving prevention and screening for patients and their relatives most at risk. 

Developed at BC Cancer by world-renowned scientists Drs. Kasmintan Schrader, Steven Jones and Peter Lansdorp and their teams, POAga is introducing a new vision for hereditary cancer testing. 

“This is one of the most significant advances in clinical genetics in recent years, with immediate applications in hereditary cancer,” says Dr. Schrader, co-director of BC Cancer’s Hereditary Cancer Program.

Turning Risk Into Action 

With up to 10% of cancer diagnoses attributed to hereditary cancers, POAga presents a critical opportunity to prevent cancer before it starts. Here’s how POAga is transforming hereditary cancer care:  

• Faster, Efficient Testing: A single blood test can clarify hereditary cancer risk for dozens of relatives, enabling prioritized follow up screening for family members most at risk and reducing unnecessary tests and stress for those with lower risk. 

• Early Detection Saves Lives: Identifying hereditary cancer risk early enables proactive steps, such as enhanced screening, preventive surgery or lifestyle changes. For example, in BRCA gene mutations, these steps can reduce certain cancer risks by up to 90%. 

• Equity in Care: POAga overcomes a common barrier in standard hereditary testing by enabling testing for a patient’s extended family members even when their parents are unavailable or deceased. This testing also stands to benefit populations who may experience barriers to family member testing including those that are older, adopted, migrants, Indigenous and/or from underserved communities.  

Scaling Up: A Canadian First 

Over the next four years, BC Cancer will sequence 6,500 whole genomes and apply POAga to approximately 1,000 patients in B.C. and the Yukon identified as having hereditary cancer risk. 

In a pilot study, nine patient samples clarified risk for 188 family members. When scaled, this initiative will impact tens of thousands of Canadians and contribute to a genomic dataset that reflects Canada’s diversity, fuelling research for decades. 

BC Cancer was the only cancer-focused institution selected for Genome Canada’s Canadian Precision Health Initiative, underscoring its leadership in  precision oncology. With participant consent, both clinical and research genomes from POAga will contribute to the Pan-Canadian Genome Library (PCGL), the country’s first public genomic resource, driving research and development of new therapies for cancer and other diseases.  

“While this testing is research-focused, we’ll be integrating results into clinical care in real time,” explains Dr. Schrader. “This means families will get answers faster and our research is generating meaningful, real-world benefits to our patients and their families.” 

Powered by Philanthropy 

This world-first milestone is made possible by donor support through the BC Cancer Foundation, including the purchase of the cutting-edge equipment required to increase sequencing capacity to this scale. 

The Foundation is now driving a $6 million fundraising campaign to fund the testing and unlock a matching $6 million through the Canadian Precision Health Initiative, increasing BC Cancer’s capacity to further scale testing and advance research.  

“Donors are the driving force behind innovation at BC Cancer,” says Sarah Roth, President & CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation. “Their generosity is helping bring world-first technology to families who have endured cancer for generations, delivering answers and hope.” 

BC Cancer Foundation support enabled the creation of the B.C.’s Genome Sciences Centre in 1999 and has propelled genomics research in B.C. for over two decades. In the past 15 years, the Foundation has invested more than $50 million to advance this work, as well as significant further investments in BC Cancer’s Hereditary Cancer Program.